Definition

Noun: - The longest side of a right-angled triangle, which is opposite the right angle.

Usage

The word "hypotenuse" is used exclusively in geometry to refer to a specific side of a right triangle. It is a countable noun.

Examples

• In a right triangle, the square of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides (the Pythagorean theorem).
• To find the length of the hypotenuse, you need to know the lengths of the other two sides.
• The ladder, leaning against the wall, formed the hypotenuse of a right triangle.

Advanced Usage

• "The hypotenuse of a right triangle": This is the most common and standard phrase. The word is almost always used with this construction.
• In mathematical notation, the hypotenuse is often labeled with the letter 'c', while the other two sides (legs) are labeled 'a' and 'b'.

Variants and Related Words

• Right triangle (noun): A triangle that has one 90-degree (right) angle. This is the shape that contains a hypotenuse.
• Leg (noun): In geometry, either of the two sides of a right triangle that form the right angle (i.e., the sides that are the hypotenuse).

Synonyms

• There are no true synonyms for this specific geometric term. The only way to describe it is as "the side opposite the right angle in a right triangle."

Related Phrases

• Pythagorean theorem: The fundamental mathematical rule that relates the lengths of the sides of a right triangle: a² + b² = c², where is the length of the hypotenuse.

Noun

1. the side of a right triangle opposite the right angle